Grain-free Chocolate Cheesecake Tarts + $50 Gift Basket Giveaway

Thanks for participating, everyone! Congratulations to Suzanne H, the winner of $50 worth of goat dairy goodies! Happy Days has just recently launched a new website and has asked me to contribute to their inspirations program – a place where I’ll share my healthy, gluten-free goat dairy recipes for followers of HP and Happy Days.

I couldn’t be more thrilled about this partnership and look forward to sharing more goat dairy goodies with you all ;)

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We like to entertain, socialize, and serve up great food when doing it. As a hostess, I like to make sure that each person that visits our home enjoys the food and can find a little bit of something that is normal to them.

When I first started entertaining, I would create all these crazy gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, corn-free, grain-free meals and appetizers with crazy ingredients like coconut oil, spirulina, homemade nut milk, and arrowroot starch. I’d introduce the meals to people and get a bunch of blank stares back. Note that it can sometimes overwhelm your guests if you introduce them to too many foreign ingredients during their visit.

Overtime I’ve come to find balance in the appetizers, meals, and desserts we serve to our friends and family. A bit of dairy here, some gluten there, vegan fare, and a touch of grain-free, goes a long way in introducing our loved ones to healthy eating without forcing them to step too much out of their comfort zone.

While I’ve tried to reintroduce dairy into my life on multiple occasions, I just can’t seem to tolerate it over long periods of time. I understand that there are readers, friends and family out there that can handle their dairy and are always looking for ways to incorporate healthier dairy options into their daily lives. Because of that, I often cook with it at home when we have friends over, and continue to come up with new and exciting ways to incorporate it into the recipes I create.

With all of this in mind, when Happy Days Goat Dairy asked me if I’d be interested in partnering up with them on a bunch of new and exciting initiatives this Summer, I jumped at the chance. Happy Days is a local, 100% Canadian goat milk company who takes the utmost care and attention into the quality of their products. Their product line-up includes a wide variety of delicious goat cheese products, and yogurt products. All of their products are guaranteed to be free of hormones and antibiotics.

Why goat dairy? Because it’s better than cow’s milk and when I have a client or friend looking to ‘healthify’ their diet, I often suggest they switch over to goat’s milk. Here’s why:

Bio-availability. Goat’s milk is closer to human’s milk making it easier to digest and assimilate than cow’s milk. In fact, over 50% of people with lactose intolerance to cow’s milk don’t have an issue with goat’s milk.

Naturally low fat. Goat’s milk is lower in fat than cow’s milk but still maintains a high fatty acid and amino acid profile. Being naturally low in fat means that the milk doesn’t have to go through as much processing as cow’s milk does. Also, because it’s low in fat, goat’s milk isn’t as mucus forming as cow’s milk.

High in fatty acids. Goat’s milk has two times the fatty acids than cow’s milk.

Environmentally friendly. Goats require less space than cows and create far less waste.

Cleaner option. Goat’s are rarely shot up with the same amount of growth hormones and antibiotics making it a less toxic choice for your and your family.

Goat’s milk and it’s products can be used in just about every recipe that calls for cow’s milk products. When I was planning to share a recipe with you using goat’s milk I wanted a recipe that was was grain-free, sugar-reduced, had a small list of ingredients, and could be easily adapted to be dairy-free for those that just can’t tolerate dairy no matter what they do!

Of course it should come as no surprise that the recipe I came up with was a dessert and calls for lots of chocolate! These tarts are easy to assemble, incredibly light, naturally sweet, and lick your fingers deeeelicious!

Place strawberries on prepared pan and roast for 20-25 minutes, until juices thicken but are not burnt.

Remove the berries and juice from the pan while still warm. Place in a small bowl, stir in balsamic vinegar, and set aside.

To prepare the chocolate cheesecake filling

Place cream cheese and milk to a small bowl. Stir until incorporated.

Add chocolate, stir again.

Divide the cream cheese mixture evenly among the coconut cups. Top with roasted strawberries, extra coconut or chocolate shavings.

[url:4]View nutrition info[/url]

Notes

Probiotic goat cheese spread is similar to cream cheese.

For a dairy-free and vegan version, use my cashew cream cheese recipe and omit the goat milk completely from this tart recipe.

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I used whole eggs for the egg whites in this recipe, then used the leftover yolks in my smoothie the next day. When mixing the coconut and egg white, make sure that each piece of coconut has a bit of egg white on it. Press the mixture very firmly into the muffin tins. The more packed, the more successful you’ll be!

While the grain-free tart shells are baking, get your strawberries ready!

It was my first time roasted strawberries and will definitely not be my last. The finished product is like candy on a baking sheet. I had a hard time not gobbling up all of the strawberries right then and there!

Once the shells are cooled and strawberries roasted, mix together your chocolate filling.

Drop the chocolate cream cheese filling into each tart shell, top with roasted strawberries, and voila!

Dress the cheesecake tarts with some extra coconut, chocolate shavings, or enjoy as is.

Okay, now for the fun part… Happy Days has offered to provide a $50 goat dairy gift basket to one lucky reader! Not only that, but all HP readers can take advantage of a $8.00 discount online orders over $20 by using the promotion code: HPJune2012.

The opinions expressed herein are those of Healthful Pursuit and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Happy Days Goat Dairy.

Praise

Enjoying your gooey St. Louis cake at lunch today. I was a little skeptical when I was making it but it is a-mazing! I chose it because I had all of the ingredients on hand…would make again!!

 Susan

I thank GOD I found your podcast after unsuccessfully trying to do keto for months, the internet is a confusing and conflicting place. I got The Keto Diet, my keto handbook, and I look forward to each and every podcast. I too come from a history of eating disorder (in my 30s, I’m now my healthiest and about to turn 50) so I love your fair, impartial, balanced approach and the fact that you speak openly about triggers! Love you!

 Michelle

I just wanted to thank you for all the important information and inspiration you share with the world! I love your podcast and of course the keto diet book! You make such a difference sharing your story! In my own life, I have utilized keto to take control of my eating habits. Your bravery and honesty in sharing your story has helped me feel supported! Just wanted to let you know the positivity your work has created! Thanks again!

 Shelby

When I was raw vegan, my gut played up severely and I was never full. My moods were erratic, and when I added cooked carbs and beans, my colitis flare-ups were pretty much a daily occurrence. After years of estrogen dominance and PCOS, I’m so pleased with keto now. In addition to that, I got the best news today– I got my period. (It stopped months ago.) You have given me the courage to let my body balance and heal. I stopped the progesterone and testosterone treatments and started keto, and things are starting to happen. I’m only a few weeks in and I feel like this is the missing piece of the puzzle.

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 Sara

I tried keto paleo a couple years ago and felt like I failed. I obsessively tracked everything and I was always tired! So I went back to just paleo with more carbs and it was so awful! I gained 20 pounds, but more importantly, I got so tired and depressed that I could not even get out of bed on some days! So, I have returned to keto paleo, but you have set me free! I eat more intuitively and am not a slave to tracking. You “gave me permission” to do this stress-free. I also no longer feel guilty when I need to carb up for a workout (I am a triathlete). I love how I feel with this eating lifestyle plan and now, thanks to you, I can stick with it!

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 Jamie

Fat adapting has truly simplified my life and gave me the energy to do what I love! Plus, Leanne’s approach to keto food prep is so effortless. Everything tastes amazing!

 Breana

I have had issues with my menstrual cycle and being on oral contraceptives. I saw my physician and she is supportive of my whole food keto lifestyle and is supportive of me going off hormones for birth control. I want to thank you for being so open about your experiences and inspiring me to find my path. I think I’m on the right path now to find what works to be my best self.

 Amanda

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 Cassia

I’ve been devouring your No Sugarcoating podcast; I love you and Amber. I’m about halfway through the Fat Fueled Audiobook. I truly appreciate Leanne’s positive, “listen to your body” message. Please keep doing what you are doing. I am feeling so much better eating this way.

 Winni

I love this program! After watching some of Leanne’s videos, I decided to take a risk by eating high-fat. My body has healed SO MUCH over the past few months. Fat fueled is an awesome guide to eating high fat and healing your body.

 Luise

I’m about to start keto and your sites have been very helpful in my research! I enjoy the videos and the podcasts. I like that you explain the pros and cons of everything and that you choose carefully which products to share and tell us how helpful they were to you. Basically, I appreciate how thorough you are! Thank you!

 Katie

I love the community, supporting a keto diet that works for the individual! I love finally having a space to talk about women on keto. Plus the recipes are amazing!

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Leanne Vogel has experienced success in using her recipes and keto-based diet. It works with her lifestyle but there are no assurances or representations of any kind made by Leanne Vogel or Healthful Pursuit Inc. that you will attain any success in using the same recipes or adopting a keto-based diet. Healthful Pursuit provides information in respect to healthy living, recipes, nutrition, and diet and is intended for informational purposes only. The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment nor is it to be construed as such. We cannot guarantee that the information provided by Healthful Pursuit reflects the most up-to-date medical research. Information is provided without any representations or warranties of any kind. Please consult a qualified physician for medical advice, and always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your health and nutrition program.